Abstract

Tayo AO 1 , Akinola OI 2 , Adewunmi AA3 and Rabiu KA 4

Unwanted or unintended pregnancy is a pregnancy not desired at the time of conception. This study was carried out to assess the prevalence of unwanted pregnancy among married women attending antenatal clinic and factors responsible for this trend. 2000 Antenatal patients were counseled to participate in this questionnaire based study however 1600 consented. Questions asked included socio-demographic data, contraceptive practice and sexual history. 400 were discarded for inadequate information. Of the final 1200 patients studied, 99% were married whilst 1% was unmarried. Forty-nine (49%) had only one partner, 25% had 2 partners, 27% had more than 3 partners since first intercourse. Twenty one (21%) of the study group did not desire the pregnancy at the time of conception. Analysis of the contraceptive history showed only 29% used any form of contraception whilst 71% were non-users. We concluded that the high degree of unwanted pregnancy among antenatal patients is due to the low acceptability/or usage of contraception. We therefore advocate the intensification of contraceptive counseling both at Antenatal and postnatal clinics to patients and their husband.